Holiday Decorating Inspiration: Scandinavian Christmas Style

The Scandinavian region of the world is famous for its Northern lights and snowy winter scenes, synonymous with Christmas. While Scandinavian design can come across as stark and modern, there's also a cozy, bright side to Scandinavian decor — one that is particularly apparently during the holiday season.

Here are a few ideas that will help you transform your home into a Scandinavian winter wonderland for the holidays.

Stick to a neutral color palette of whites and silvers with minimal color.

Use natural greenery and pine cones with sparse ornaments.

Wool blankets and animal skins add warmth to modern furnishings.

Candlelight is essential in the upper regions of the Northern hemisphere (and to get that Scandinavian look, for us southerners).

Top Row (from left to right):

1. A classic silver and white clad Christmas tree in Sweden from Lantliv.
2. Traditional Christmas dining table inspiration from Royal Copenhagen.
3. Some sparse decorative inspiration from Nordic Interior.
4. Snow-capped pine cones, candles, and stars are all natural elements of the Northern lights region. From We Heart It.
5. Space is tight in many Scandinavian homes, but a small tree can be just as festive as a large one. From Ullamaija Hannien.

Bottom Row (from left to right):

6. Winter style in a former Swedish schoolhouse turned family home, from Planete Deco.
7. Christmas candle lights from Iittala.
8. Holiday inspiration from Marimekko, from Emma's designblogg.
9. Lots of fresh greenery around the house brings life inside while it may seem grey and dreary outside. From Planete Deco.
10. Mixed candles are more relaxed than perfectly matched candles and holders. From Weekday Carnival.

Claire is a California native living in London who loves discovering the city with her husband and French bulldog Watson. With a background in photography and interior design, her current creative obsessions include sewing, printmaking, and anything neon.